The Genkai Hakuri no Jutsu (Detachment of the Primitive World Technique) bloomed like a three-dimensional geometric flower, each translucent layer expanding outward to engulf Shigeo.
His Mangekyō Sharingan spun sharply—space twisted and folded. In a flash of distortion, Shigeo vanished into another dimension, narrowly escaping the disintegration field.
But Mū's sensory prowess was legendary across the ninja world. The instant Shigeo reappeared, the Second Tsuchikage's next Genkai Hakuri no Jutsu was already forming, pursuing him through space like a predator tracking its prey.
It was a duel of speed and intellect. One slip—one heartbeat too slow—and the loser would be erased, not even a trace of dust remaining.
Shigeo focused entirely. The space around him warped, blooming and collapsing in rhythmic bursts—appearing, vanishing, appearing again.
No. He couldn't keep dodging forever. Even Susanoo wouldn't help. Mujin Meisai (Dustless Bewildering Cover) was too troublesome; he couldn't catch what he couldn't see.
Shigeo's eyes narrowed, then curved into a slight smile. He had an idea.
Once again, he slipped into dimensional space, evading the oncoming wave of disintegration. Behind him, the glass-like cubes cracked and shattered with sharp pah-pah-pah sounds—hollow and futile.
At the same moment, two of his Mokuton clones cast Mokujin no Jutsu (Wood Human Technique) to restrain the other reanimated Kage, then turned to support their creator.
Their help, however, wasn't direct combat. It was preparation—tools.
That was Shigeo's plan.
The senbon and kunai they threw weren't ordinary weapons. These were prepared long ago—originally meant for Uchiha Obito. But today, they would serve another purpose.
Each weapon was inscribed with the seal of the Hiraishin no Jutsu-shiki (Flying Thunder God Formula).
Developed by the Second Hokage, Tobirama, the formula allowed instantaneous teleportation between two marked points, drastically shortening the distance between caster and target. As long as the target remained within this world, Shigeo could find them—no matter where they hid.
The two clones unleashed a torrent of senbon and kunai from every direction, raining down like a storm. Mū dodged swiftly, phasing between attacks, using Doton barriers to block the rest.
After a minute of this relentless barrage, Mū sneered. "Is this all you've got?"
To outside observers, the assault looked pointless. The Ink Village shinobi watching from the walls exchanged confused looks.
"Why would Mo-Kage-sama's clones waste chakra on throwing weapons?" someone muttered. "That's the Second Tsuchikage—he can turn invisible! No way a few kunai could hit him."
But none of them knew—Shigeo had already won.
He moved suddenly, chakra flaring. Lightning crackled, wind roared, ice and storm mixed together—Raiton, Ranton, Fūton, Hyōton—a symphony of advanced chakra nature transformations blasted toward Mū.
Mū barely avoided the onslaught and began forming seals again—but Shigeo gave him no time.
Cornered, Mū vanished into invisibility once more, hiding within Mujin Meisai. From above, he smirked. "He thinks I'm Ōnoki? Using projectiles against me—how foolish."
Down below, the air shimmered. Shigeo's form flickered—then disappeared.
"Tch, another spatial shift," Mū muttered. "That Sharingan's becoming annoying. But it doesn't matter—he'll never find me."
He floated silently, unseen, gathering chakra for the killing blow. No one in this world can detect me, he thought. This time, I'll kill the so-called Ink Shadow.
But then—he froze.
A sudden chill crawled down his back.
Before he could turn, a hand clamped onto his shoulder. Chakra surged, draining rapidly from his body.
"What—?!" Mū's eyes widened as his invisibility broke. His body shimmered into view. "Impossible! No one can find me! How did you know where I was?"
Shigeo smiled faintly but said nothing. He wouldn't give up his secret—because one day, if they were enemies again, he could use it once more.
The truth was simple: during the earlier senbon barrage, one of the weapons had grazed Mū's back, marking him with the Hiraishin seal.
All Shigeo had needed was that single hit.
With the seal active, Mū's invisibility meant nothing. No matter where he hid—in the air, underground, or another field entirely—Shigeo could sense and reach him instantly.
Mū struggled, his chakra draining into Shigeo's hand. His body weakened, his form flickering.
Moments later, the legendary Second Tsuchikage fell—his energy completely absorbed.
Shigeo straightened, his breathing calm, his chakra stronger than before. He felt… elevated, as if his own ninjutsu had ascended to a new level.
The sealing squad rushed forward, binding Mū's body in specialized talismans. They had already sealed the Second Mizukage earlier.
Now, only two reanimated Kage remained on the battlefield—the Third Raikage A and the Fourth Kazekage Rasa.
Together, they charged at Shigeo from opposite sides, one attacking close, the other from afar. Lightning and gold dust split the battlefield apart.
Rasa's magnetic waves surged forward, while the Raikage unleashed Raiton: Kuroi Kaminari (Lightning Release: Black Lightning).
That black lightning—if it struck—would paralyze even a Kage, leaving them writhing in agony.
Shigeo's two remaining clones were struck, their forms splintering into wood before collapsing. The Mokujin vanished with them.
Analyzing quickly, Shigeo realized direct confrontation was suicide. Instead, he engaged the Raikage in close combat—forcing the man's lightning-based attacks to dissipate.
"Mokuton: Mokuryū no Jutsu (Wood Dragon Technique)!"
Twin wooden dragons erupted from the ground, coiling around the Raikage, snapping at his arms.
The two collided fiercely—Raiton clashing with Mokuton. Every impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air. Both were immense reservoirs of chakra; every strike was powerful enough to level a mountain.
From the village walls, the watching ninja could barely keep up.
The fog had long since cleared, and now they could see their Kage in all his glory. Their hearts raced with awe.
This was the first time they had witnessed their Ink Shadow fighting against multiple Kage-level foes up close.
The First Mo-Kage wasn't just powerful—he was brilliant.
Many of his tactics seemed reckless at first, even disadvantageous, but he always turned the tide. Like during the battle with Jōki Bōi—when his magnet release failed and even Susanoo couldn't finish the fight, he hadn't forced victory. Instead, he'd let a clone drain Gengetsu's chakra, neutralizing him completely.
At the time, they hadn't understood. But now, they did.
The reanimated Kage were immortal.
Even when Shigeo's wooden dragon bit into the Raikage's arm, tearing it off, a moment later, the limb regenerated as if nothing had happened.
Realization dawned across the walls. Some gasped, some stared in silence.
Their admiration for Shigeo deepened.
He wasn't just strong—he was a true Kage.
(End of Chapter)
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